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Post by Long Haul on Jul 18, 2009 23:04:42 GMT -5
"So, wait," Long Haul starts, scratching his head. "You're sayin' you want folks to be able to... what, merge their heads with folks they don't hardly know?"
The he rubs his chin and considers this.
"Guess they'll know 'em when it's done. Hah!
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Post by Perceptor on Jul 19, 2009 14:39:21 GMT -5
"Scramble City?" Perceptor asks, frowning as he searches through his memory banks quickly for the reference. Ah, here it is. Holi had made a mention of something of the sort, but there is a dearth of specific dtails listed.
"Ah, yes. I can speak with those of Holi's reality to get clarification of the specifications. From what information I have, however, it seems that the combiners of Holi's reality may operate slightly differently than the Aerialbots and Protectobots that I am familiar with had. A combination strictly of physical means, and a cooperation of mental, rather than a melding."
He turns toward Wedge. "How does the combiner process work in your reality, Wedge? Do you retain individuality in a cooperative manner while combined? Or doe your individual minds merge into a gestalt mentality?"
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Wedge
Minor
NOT a reckless teen-bot
Posts: 413
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Post by Wedge on Jul 21, 2009 0:58:01 GMT -5
"Extant combiner components? You mean those of us who already part of combiner teams?"
Wedge really doesn't know if he can properly process that thought properly at the moment so he turns to a little too eagerly to respond to Perceptor's question. "Well, in our reality, it really depends on the combiner. I mean, Rail Racer, he's made up of Team Bullet Train--ah, three mech team--and their minds merge pretty seamlessly." What with the whole 'we' thing they have going on. "My team? We merge minds, yeah, but...Landfill takes after me a bit."
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Jul 21, 2009 13:51:41 GMT -5
Emirate Xaaron nods to Long Haul and confirms, "Perhaps not the most comfortable of arrangements, but what is comfortable about any of this situation?" He holds his arms out wide, palms up.
"What has been done once can be done again. What is repeatable can be done better." Engineering mantras. "The trick is to do it before the competition."
"Get your heads together. Think about it. Go over the known literature. Study any combiner pieces we have here. If we are so very luck as to get and intact combiner whole, study him*. Do some simulations."
"I'll get with Intel and see what else we may be able to turn up."
Those yellow optics narrow slightly.
* Takes place prior to Safeguard.
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Post by Long Haul on Jul 21, 2009 19:46:05 GMT -5
Long Haul feels a bit out of place here, not being a genius and not knowing much about combiners (he's too early for that) shrugs. "Well, I'll do what I can, sir, but I don't see as I got much to contribute, y'know?"
Of course, the fact is that, if he had stayed in his home reality, he would have become a component himself. Which at least implies that his psyche can handle combining (not just combining, but combining with such diverse personalities as Hook, Mixmaster, and Booncrusher), even if he hasn't been a component himself.
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Post by Perceptor on Jul 22, 2009 5:48:30 GMT -5
Perceptor's chin is braced upon his hand, optics distant. In other words, Perceptor is thinking, hard. He glances up briefly at Long Haul's comments, and waves his other hand in a dismissive gesture.
"You are quite a capable builder, for one thing, and, though it has not occured yet in your own reality, you are meant to be part of a combiner team," he replies. "A rather demanding and powerful one, at that. Do not underestimate your contributions to this endeavor, for it will be very important to study not only your existing systems, but more importantly, with your permission, your... your mind. Your compensatory mechanisms to establish a potential base line for the individuals who will adjust to the combiner process mentally and emotionally."
In other words, everything from Long Haul's post, just in Perceptor-ese.
"I am significantly less concerned about the physical challenges of producing a cohesive combiner than I am in the challenges of producing a stable combiner," he adds with a nod of agreement toward Xaaron. "It has been done, therefore it will be replicated."
He drifts off in thought again, muttering to himself about circuit interfaces and safety interlocks.
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Wedge
Minor
NOT a reckless teen-bot
Posts: 413
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Post by Wedge on Jul 24, 2009 0:13:20 GMT -5
"Perceptor's right," and Wedge can't agree more with the scientist. He just can't put it in quite the impressive lingo that Perceptor seems to pull out of no where. "Xaaron's called the lot of us here and we've all got things to contribute."
"I've got plans and outlines of being a part of a combiner project in my memory banks, but tell the truth, I'm not that great when it comes to modifying and creating systems that go with mechs. You and Perceptor both know how to do that---and I'm hoping to be a quick study if you all will let me. With all of us and maybe a few more people chipping in on the project, I'm positive that we won't only pull it off, but that it'll be a success--and we'll need all the help we can get." Wedge positively radiates excitement and resolution and his words, while a spontaneous and maybe a little cheesy, are meant with every ounce of earnestness that can be expressed.
Wedge gives Xaaron a salute. "Will do, sir."
He turns to Perceptor and Long Haul. "I also volunteer myself if you're getting a group of people analyze." So if Long Haul's up for it and the other bots who're part of combiner teams as well, they'll have at least one pre-gestalt unit and several current ones. "If you guys are up to it, I'm going to head to a lab and start pulling up what I can remember of the whole project, or I can catch you all later when I've drawn up all I can."
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Jul 24, 2009 22:07:54 GMT -5
Emirate Xaaron takes a few steps towards Long Haul and reaches out to place a reassuring hand on Long Haul's lower arm, if Long Haul will let him. His stitched lips quirk into a genuine smile, and he confirms what the others are saying, "Who knows? Perhaps something you'll say or do will be the critical lynchpin, the means to an end."
He looks around to the others, and muses, "I think that I can leave you to it, now. If you find anyone else with something to contribute, by all means, draft them."
Emirate Xaaron needs to inform his second in command now and, then, talk to Intelligence.
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Post by Long Haul on Jul 25, 2009 16:19:13 GMT -5
Long Haul does not resist or avoid as Emirate Xaaron places his hand on the dump truck's lower arm, but nor does he look particularly cheered or reassured. Truth is, the idea of combining is frightening to him. Just look at what event it's tied up with in his future, everyone else's past! But beyond that, it sounds like they are considering him as one of the combiners. After his conversation with Mixmaster, is the feeling that once he's merged with anyone else, he's taken a step that there's no going back from.
In a way, Long Haul needs such a step, such an affirmation that he will never walk down the path he would have if he had stayed in his home reality, he will never be a Decepticon. But even if it's needed, such a change is still scary, and he cannot help the small twinge at the thought of how Hook and Mixmaster will react to it. They'll see it as a betrayal, after all.
Long Haul has never felt so cut off from his team.
He looks between Wedge and Perceptor and gives a shrug. "Well, sounds like you're mostly needing me to look at, uhm, a pre-combination combiner type, or something, so when you get to that point, call me. But the point you're at now, I don't think I have much to add to it."
With that, since the meeting appears over, he turns to trudge towards the exit.
OOC: Out of thread unless stopped.
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Post by Perceptor on Jul 25, 2009 17:31:02 GMT -5
"Thank you, Xaaron," Perceptor replies distractedly. There are several he may wish to speak to, individuals who are better at dealing with individuals and people than he is who may be invaluable in providing some insight. "How... public is this project, by the by?" he asks, attention crystalizing for a moment to glance up at Xaaron.
"I would think that, perhaps, one of the first steps may be to poll our current populace to find those who would, like Wedge," he explains with a nod to the Build Team member, "even be interested in becoming a combiner component."
"Ah, thank you, Long Haul. If you would not mind, I will seek you out shortly."
He is clearly swiftly lost in thought again, however, and unless anyone has any specific questions to bring him out of his musings, he'll contentedly remain there for the forseeable future.
ooc: once he bgets answers to his questions, unless anyo0ne has anything else they want to talk to him about or ask him, Perceptor is effectively out of thread as well.
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Wedge
Minor
NOT a reckless teen-bot
Posts: 413
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Post by Wedge on Jul 26, 2009 21:29:51 GMT -5
"Ah--I'm not sure about actually being a combiner component yet," Wedge backpedals as he tries to hide that little bit of panic that's probably showing on his face. "I'm fine with being examined to help with the project, but..." he trails off unsure how to finish the thought. Being part of a combiner team...it's a tempting thought and they'll need all the participation with the project they can get. But combining and melding without Hightower, Heavy Load, and Grimlock--would it be worth it? Besides, they're going to get back home, right? What the heck will those three think if Wedge comes back with extra links? "..being a component? I'll...I'll have to think on it."
With a slightly guilty and embarrassed air, Wedge shifts, waiting to hear about the level of security of the project before leaving to begin recording and to begin sifting through the confusion that are the thoughts in his head.
OOC: As soon as Wedge hears the answer, he'll be out of thread as well
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Jul 27, 2009 21:28:56 GMT -5
Emirate Xaaron doesn't expect this will stay secret long, but he does raise a finger and try anyway, "Do try to keep it quiet. It would be disastrous for the Decepticons to discover the project before it has time to mature. Also, I would hate it disappoint anyone who is... unsuitable as a component by getting their hopes up."
"I would not poll the populace." He folds his hands looks around. "For that very reason."
This is not some fun and games amusement ride!
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Post by Perceptor on Jul 28, 2009 5:15:53 GMT -5
"Hmm?" Perceptor murmurs distractedly. "Oh. Well. Hmmmm..."
Yes, articulate bot is articulate.
"That will complicate matters," he observes to himself, then gives an airy wave of dismissal. "But, no matter. We will find a means to accomplish what is necessary without compromising security, Xaaron. With your permission, then?"
Although he is clearly waiting for permission to be dismissed and wander off, his mind is already a million miles away, rendering any such permission rather... superfluous.
ooc: okay, out of thread for real this time, unless stopped or addressed.
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